Durkin couldn't say no to UF

By Robbie AndreuStaff writer

Friday

Feb 26, 2010 at 12:52 PM

D.J. Durkin has a unique perspective on Urban Meyer's blueprint for building a successful program. He was there to see Meyer put it together for the first time at Bowling Green in 2001. (Photo by Rob C. Witzel/Staff)

D.J. Durkin has a unique perspective on Urban Meyer's blueprint for building a successful program. He was there to see Meyer put it together for the first time at Bowling Green in 2001. What made Durkin's view so different was that he had been a four-year starter for the lowly Falcons before Meyer's arrival, and then he had the opportunity to start his coaching career as a graduate assistant under the new Bowling Green coach. The turnaround at Bowling Green happened fast, and Durkin experienced it. "I got to see firsthand, right from the start, talk about a guy coming in and changing the whole culture and the way things are done at a place," Durkin said. "He's got a plan to win, and it works. "It's a very unique perspective to see how things were done for five years as a player and then how it could go a total 180 with another guy coming in and the way things were done, everything about the program and how it was managed. It was very unique." All the things Meyer has done at Florida — from the mat drills, to holding players accountable, to building relationships with players, to winning — Durkin saw at Bowling Green for two years. "The biggest thing is the way Coach Meyer worked with players, the relationship he had with them," Durkin said. "He was very personable, very up front. Every guy sitting in the room had to carry his way, had to be accountable to his teammates. The way he handled discipline, just the whole winning attitude. "When I say culture change, I mean it from the top to the bottom. Being involved with college football for five years (as a player), I had no idea that's what it was or what it could be like. It's pretty impressive and obviously works." Durkin has carried the lessons he learned from Meyer with him through his young coaching career — as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame, a full-time assistant for two seasons at Bowling Green, followed by three years at Stanford as the defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator. "Every coach takes bits and pieces from guys they've worked with," Durkin said. "I've had a chance to work with some great coaches, Urban being the best. It was an invaluable experience for me to start off my first years in coaching under him." Now, Durkin is bringing those early lessons back home, so to speak. He's back with his mentor after being hired by Meyer in January. Durkin is expected to coach the linebackers and special teams at Florida. Durkin had a good job at Stanford, working for one of the up-and-coming coaches in the game in Jim Harbaugh. But when Meyer called, Durkin could not say no. "With all due respect, Stanford is a great program and Jim Harbaugh is a tremendous coach and a great guy," Durkin said. "But the chance to come here and coach with the best players in the country, in the country's best program for the best coach in the country, it's a deal you can't pass up." As a graduate assitant at Bowling Green, Durkin worked with Meyer on the special teams. It looks like the two will be doing the same at Florida. Meyer has been the special teams coordinator at UF, but it appears he's ready to hand off some of that responsibility to Durkin. "I tried to soak up every ounce of it that I could (under Meyer at Bowling Green)," Durkin said. "I'm sure that's why there is a comfort level between the two of us that we can go in there and work on special teams together. There's not a drastic change in how we see things." Durkin is not only reuniting with Meyer in Gainesville. He's also reconnecting with Zach Azzanni, the new UF wide receivers coach. Durkin and Azzanni were both graduate assistants on Meyer's staff at Bowling Green, and the two have remained close friends. "We have a lot of good stories to share," Durkin said. "We've stayed close throughout our coaching careers." When asked if he called Azzanni when he was being considered for the job at UF, Durkin said, "Absolutely. We've keep in touch. We've always talked. He's a great coach and a great guy." The two friends share the same unique perspective on Meyer: they saw how he got this all started at Bowling Green back in 2001-02. "I'm excited to work for (Meyer) again," Durkin said.

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